FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTAUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

JANUARY 29, 2007

MOTHER SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY TO TRANSPORT HUNDREDS OF PROSTITUTES TO MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES

Most of the Prostitutes Were Illegal Aliens Transported from New York and New Jersey

Greenbelt, Maryland - Olinda Aparicio, age 65, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to transport hundreds of women for prostitution purposes to Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. also ordered that Aparicio forfeit the residence located at 486 West Deer Park Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland; one silver 2000 BMW 323; and $8,185 in cash seized on November 16, 2005.

According to the plea agreement presented to the court, from April 2003 to November 16, 2005 Olinda Aparicio conspired with her daughters, Elsy Aparicio and Dorinalda Aparicio a/k/a “Dorinalda Aparicio Gonzalez,” her son Eliazor Aparicio, her sister Rosibel Aparicio Jandres, her brother-in-law Manuel Jandres, and Jair Francis, to transport hundreds of women from New York and New Jersey to Maryland and employ them as prostitutes.

The conspirators communicated with the women by cellular telephone at least a week prior to their travel to Maryland, and scheduled them to work in at least 15 places of prostitution that they operated, including apartments and houses in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Langley Park and Wheaton. The conspirators picked the women up early on Monday mornings at various pre-arranged locations in New York and New Jersey and dropped them off in Maryland where they worked as prostitutes for a week at a time. A doorman collected money from customers and provided security for the prostitutes. The conspirators provided the prostitutes with food and supplies for a set weekly fee. Olinda Aparicio used her name to acquire apartments and cell phones for use in the prostitution business and sold lingerie and shoes to the prostitutes. The vast majority of the women they employed as prostitutes were aliens unlawfully present in the United States.

Olinda Aparicio pleaded guilty on November 13, 2006. Elsy Aparicio, age 31, of Gaithersburg; Eliazor Aparicio, age 31, of Wheaton; Dorinalda Aparicio, age 36, of Gaithersburg; and Manuel Jandres, age 40, and Rosibel Jandres, age 45, both of Germantown, Maryland, pled guilty to the same charge and face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Elsy Aparicio also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for money laundering conspiracy.

Jair Francis, age 33, of Wheaton, Maryland was convicted on December 19, 2006 of conspiracy to transport women for prostitution purposes, conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and aggravated identity theft. Francis faces a maximum sentence of five years for the prostitution conspiracy; 10 years for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, and a mandatory two years in prison consecutive to any sentence on the charge of aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Montgomery County Police Department; and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chan Park and Gina Simms, who are prosecuting the case.